U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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79–012 2000

106th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 106–284

REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

THE REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE

WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–208, THE OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

SEPTEMBER 6, 2000.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and

ordered to be printed

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THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, August 8, 2000.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR: In accordance with provisions of P.L. 104–208, the Omnibus

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, I hereby request the following:

Department of Agriculture:

Forest Service, Wildland Fire Management: $150,000,000.

These funds will be used to address urgent needs arising from

the consequences of the severe and numerous fires on Federal public lands throughout the western United States.

I hereby designate the above request as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and

Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed letter from

the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur

with his comments and observations.

Sincerely,

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

Enclosure.

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[Estimate No. 18, 106th Congress, 2d Session]

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,

Washington, DC, August 8, 2000.

The PRESIDENT, The White House.

Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available

previously appropriated contingent emergency funds for the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Your approval of this request

would make available $150 million to fight wildland fires and rehabilitate fire-damaged Federal public lands in the western United

States.

P.L. 104–208, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act,

1997, provided $550 million to USDA for emergency wildland fire

management activities. The availability of a portion of this funding—$250 million—was made contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. On September 29, 1999, you released $100 million to address needs arising from the consequences of fires on Federal public lands throughout the western United States. Of the $550 million appropriated to

USDA for firefighting in P.L. 104–208, $300 million was available

immediately upon enactment.

Major recent fires in western States have resulted in costs that

greatly exceed those of the average firefighting season, and new

fires are being started daily by lightning and other causes. Funds

currently available to USDA for wildland fire operations are insufficient to cover the expenses estimated to be incurred during this

fiscal year. The funds now requested to be made available would

support emergency wildland fire operations, including fire suppression and rehabilitation of fire-damaged lands.

I recommend that you designate this request for $150 million as

an emergency requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(A)

of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985,

as amended. No further congressional action will be required.

I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it

is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Agriculture in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of

Representatives.

Sincerely,

JACOB J. LEW,

Director.

Enclosure.

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EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS: AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED

MADE AVAILABLE BY THE PRESIDENT

Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Forest Service:

Wildland Fire Management .................................................... $150,000,000

P.L. 104–208, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act,

1997, provided $550 million to USDA for emergency wildland fire

management activities. The availability of a portion of this funding—$250 million—was made contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. Of the $250

million in contingent emergency appropriations, $100 million has

been previously designated as an emergency requirement and made

available.

Major recent fires in the western United States have resulted in

costs that greatly exceed those of the average firefighting season.

At this time, the remaining $150 million in contingent funding is

required to address urgent needs arising from the consequences of

the severe and numerous fires on Federal public lands throughout

the western United States. This funding will support emergency

wildland fire operations, including fire suppression and rehabilitation of fire-damaged lands.

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